In C programming, what will be the output when you execute the following code that mixes switch case labels with goto? #include <stdio.h> void main() { switch (2) { case 1L: printf("No"); case 2L: printf("%s", "I"); goto Love; case 3L: printf("Please"); case 4L: Love: printf("Hi"); } }

Introduction / Context:
This question tests your understanding of switch statement behavior, fall through between cases and the use of a goto label placed inside the switch in C. It requires careful tracing of control flow from the matching case label through the goto and subsequent statements.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The switch expression is switch (2), so the case that matches is case 2L.

• There are no break statements before or after the label Love: inside case 4L.

• The label Love: is defined after case 4L but can be jumped to from case 2L.

• We assume the code compiles as valid C with the proper stdio.h include.

Concept / Approach:
When switch (2) executes, control transfers directly to the matching case label case 2L. From there, execution continues sequentially unless a break, return or goto directs control elsewhere. In this code, the case 2L block prints "I" and then executes goto Love;, which jumps to the label Love: defined under case 4L. Execution resumes at that label and prints "Hi". There are no further statements in the switch, so execution then falls out of the switch and the function ends.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Evaluate the switch expression: it is the constant 2. Step 2: The matching case label is case 2L:, so execution starts at printf("%s", "I"); within that case. Step 3: printf("%s", "I"); prints the character I. Step 4: Next, goto Love; transfers control to the label Love: defined under case 4L. Step 5: At Love:, the statement printf("Hi"); executes, printing Hi immediately after the already printed I. Step 6: After printing Hi, there are no more statements in the switch, so control falls out of the switch and the function terminates. The total output is IHi with no spaces or newlines.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can conceptually rewrite the relevant part: for the chosen switch value 2, the only reachable code is the body of case 2L and any code reached from it by goto. Although case 4L appears later, the goto jumps directly to the label inside it, then execution continues downward. No break statement is encountered before exiting the switch. There are no instructions that would print "Please" or "No" in this path, confirming the output is exactly IHi.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A ("I") ignores the fact that the goto leads to Love: where "Hi" is printed as well. Option B ("IPleaseHi") would be correct if execution flowed through case 3L and printed "Please", but the goto jumps directly to Love: inside case 4L, skipping printf("Please"). Option D ("Compilation error") is incorrect because using goto within a switch to a label inside the same function is legal C, provided the control flow does not violate restrictions such as jumping into a scope with uninitialized variables (which it does not here).

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to assume that each case must end with break and that execution cannot jump into the middle of another case using goto. While using goto inside switch often leads to confusing code and is discouraged stylistically, it is permitted as long as label scoping rules are respected. Another pitfall is to expect automatic breaks after each case, but in C fall through is allowed and often exploited, so you must carefully track where control goes and where it can be diverted by jumps.

Final Answer:
The program prints "I" in case 2L and then jumps to Love:, where it prints "Hi", so the combined output is IHi.